Meet Tayla: Inaugural Social Work Student

From never envisioning herself completing a university degree to juggling full-time work and study, Tayla Kerwin found a passion for social services while working as a receptionist.

Tayla is an inaugural Bachelor of Social Work student at the University of Southern Queensland. We sat down with her to hear more about her journey.

Have you always been interested in studying social work?

Throughout high school and my earlier years of education, I never thought I’d do a university degree. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realised the value of education and where it can take you. I started working at CatholicCare Social Services in 2021 as a receptionist. I had no plans to study at that point; however, through my daily exposure to the social services field, I grew an interest in exploring what I may be able to do. I was originally drawn in with an interest for our family dispute mediation services. I met with multiple practitioners, team leaders and the deputy director within CatholicCare Social Services to ask them questions about their roles and what studies they had done, which helped me map out what path I wanted to take.

Why were you drawn to study a Bachelor of Social Work at UniSQ?

When I decided I would do a degree at UniSQ, I was considering three different pathways: Psychology, Law or Social Work. After doing some research into each pathway, I landed on Social Work being my choice. I can't quite remember all of the contributing factors, but I know it stood out to me through the diversity of opportunities it can create for graduates. It's hard to commit yourself to four years of a degree in one specific field, so I was encouraged by the nature of the social work degree and how many practice fields it covers. I felt that this bachelor would allow me to explore my professional practice and discover what I am truly passionate about. I was also encouraged by the fact that the 2023 cohort of students was the first for Social Work at UniSQ and saw this as an opportunity to immerse myself. Due to full-time work responsibilities, I’ve opted for the online study option for my degree; however, I also love the fact the campus is local to where I live and feels very accessible.

What is your favourite thing about the degree so far?

My favourite thing so far is how much the content has challenged me. I like that it’s made up of courses that include other allied health fields such as human services, psychology and nursing. The breadth of research, practice knowledge and the opportunity to reflect on my own beliefs throughout my courses provides multiple layers of learning and room to develop as an individual.

What are your tips for balancing study and work?

Everyone will have a different ‘coping mechanism’ to blend the study requirements of a degree into their life, but this is what has worked for me so far.

• Sort out your enrolment pattern as a priority. It can be like reading another language when you first start, but there’s a lot of student support available.
• Plan out all of your due dates for assessments in a calendar you look at frequently. I look at mine daily!
• Start small. Don't try to sit down and do an essay all at once. For example, start with your title page and then move on to your introduction. Break it down into manageable pieces.
• If you're unsure on something, reach out to your lecturer or use the forums. This can really help to clear up any confusion in your head.
• Lastly, try to make at least one or two study buddies when you meet everyone at your first Residential School. This may just be the support you need when you're feeling stressed out and no one in your family understands. It’s comforting to know that everyone is going through the same thing!

What are your future career aspirations?

I'm actually still not sure. I’m really grateful for the Social Work degree because I don't feel like I need to know what I'm going to do just yet. All the teachers I’ve had so far have encouraged us to explore different fields, try things we aren't naturally drawn to and see what we think. I don't feel like I need to commit to anything right now and it's okay to remain open to all opportunities.